Fastening device for caps



Jan. 11, 1927. v 1,614,048 w. E. STEWART r FASTENING DEVICE FOR CAPSFiled Nov. 15, 1 2 sheets-sheen WITNESSES v v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 111927, 1,614,048

w. E. STEWART FASTENING DEVICE FOR CAPS Filed Npv. 15, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR STEM/4R7,

. BY r (7/ (11 49,

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan, 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EVERTTE STEW'ART, OF NASHVILLE. TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO EISELE 8cCOMPANY, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, CGRPORA'IION OF DELAWARE.

FASTENING DEVICE FOR CAPS.

Application filed November 15. 1924.

This invention relates in general to releasable fastening means forsecuring a cap or the like to a case or similar structure and isespecially designed for We in mounting and securing the cap of aclinical thermometer to its case so as to releasably secure or hold thethermometer in the case. The invention is also adapted for embodiment inother similar structures such as fountain pen cases, pencil cases, orthe like.

The object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which eliminates the use of threaded parts thereby avoidingthe necessity for tedious manipulation of the cap and case in order tointerengage the threaded parts.

A further object is the provision of a releasable fastening device ofthis character which when embodied in, aclinical thermometer case,coacts with the cap of the case to secure the cap in position whilepermitting the cap and the thermometer to aline themselves in the case,thereby avoiding scratching, scarring or breaking the thermometer. I

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of theconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts which will behereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a clinical thermometercase embodying the present invention and showing the cap applied andr'eleasably' held to the case,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the cap andthermometer partially withdrawn from the case,

Figure 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of thearrangement shown in Figure 1, V

Figure 4 is a view in section on the line 44 of Figurel,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the bushing of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a slightly diife'rentform of the invention,

Figure 7 1s a vlew partly in section and partly n elevation of the formshown 1n Figure 6,

Serial No. 750,165.

Figure 8 is a view in section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a group view in perspective of the bushing and springemployed inthe form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8,

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing another form of the invention,the cap and thermometer being shown positioned within and secured to thecases,

Figure 11 is a view similar to F igure10 showing the thermometer and cappartially withdrawn,

Figure 12 is a view partly in section and partly in elevationof the formshown in Figure 10,

Figure 13 is a view in horizontal section on the line 13-13 of Figure12,

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of theinvention,

Figure 15 is a View similar to Figure 1 1, but showing the caps andthermometers partially withdrawn,

Figure 16 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of thearrangement shown in Figure 14,

Figure 17 is a view in horizontal section on the line 17-17 of Figure16, and

Figure 18 is a view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more especially to Figures 1 and 5, thenumeral 1 designates a case for a clinical thermometer designated at 2and carried by a cap 3. Re leasab'le interengaging and holding means isprovided for securing the cap 3 to the case 1 and for properlypositioning the thermometer 2 in the case, and this meanscomprises abushing 4 fitted and secured in the upper open end of the case 1. Thebushing 4 is provided with a number of longitudinal slots 5 extendingfrom the outer end of' the bushing to points adjacent its center andthese slots 5 which occur at spaced angular intervals around the bushingprovide flexible sections on the bushing. The flexible sections of thebushing have inwardly deflected marginal edges or portions 6 whichprovide arcuate spring members designed to engage and fit in a groove 7provided in a cylindrical member 8 carried by the cap 3, so that the capwill be releasably secured to the bushing and consequently to the ease.The

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for vard end of the cylindrical member 8 is rounded oil or provided witha camming portion 9 designed to engage the arcuate spring members 6 tocause them to snap into the groove 7. The bushing 1 is of cylindricalform, so that the cylindrical member 8 when titted therein provides aproper mounting for the cap 3 and thermometer 2. This cylindrical member8 is a suliiciently loose tit in the bushing 4: to permit the thermometer to properly aline itself in the case 1 thereby preventing breakingof the thermomcter.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive isidentical with that just described except that the bushing 10 whichCOH'GSPOINlS to the bushing it is of somewhat ditlerent structure. Thebushing 11') is of cylindrical term but is not slotted to provideyieldable sections the bushing 10 on the contrary being substantiallyrigid, and being suitably fixed in the case 1. Adjacent its upper endthe bushing 10 is formed with an annular groove 11 in its outerperiphery, and inv this groove an arcuate spring member 12 is received.One end oi the spring member is confined b tween the bushing 10 and thecase 1 and is held in position in this way. The. other end of the springmember 12 is inturned as at 13 and is eX- tended through an opening 14provided in the bushing. Clearance 15 is provided for the portion of thespring member adjacent the inturned end 13 so that the spring member maypartake of the necessary flexion. With this form of the invention, theinturned end of the spring member 13 is engageable with the groove ofthe cylindrical member 8 and this inturned end is influenced into thegroove 7 by the action of the camming portion 9 of the cylindricalmember.

111 the form of the invention shown in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive, thethermoniit-iter cap and cylindrical member hereinbefore described areemployed as above, but the case 1 which is also employed. has a dil'lerent type of bushing. As shown to advantage in Figure 12, the bushingemployed in this em- Jodiment of the invention includes a cylindricalbody portion 16 fitted and secured in the upper end of the case andhaving an outwardly directed flange 1'? overlapping the upper end of thecase. The flange 17 is provided 'ith an internal groove 18 in which anarcuate spring member 20 is positioned. One end of the spring member 20is soldered, welded or otherwise suitably -fastened to the walls of thegroove 18 and the spring member adjacent its other end curves out intothe opening of the body portion 16, so as to be positioned to snap intothe groove 7 of the cylindrical member 8 under the influence of thecamming portion 9.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 14 to 17inclusive, a pair of cases designated at are provided and are formed attheir lower ends with reduced extensions 26. The reduced extension ofone case is fitted and secured in an opening-provided there't'or in thecarrier 27, whereas the reduced extension of the other case isreleasably fitted in an opening provided therefor in the same carrier.

Flanged bushings 28 are fitted and r'rictionally secured in the upperopen ends of the cases 25, and these flanged bushings have theiradjacent portions united as at 29. 'lhermometers 2 are introduced intothe cases 25 through the bushings and these thermometers have associatedtherewith the caps 3 and cylindrical members 8 hereinbetore described.rrircuate spring members 30 are provided on the bushings, the arcuatespring members being disposed exteriorly of the bushings and havinginturned end portions 31 extending through openings in the burla ingsand projecting into the grooves T oi the cylindrical members c. Itdesired, these arcuate lHCEi'il'Mll'S 30 may be coi'istituted of asingle piece of spring metal having its intermediate portion 32 welded,soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the bushings 17.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 18 the numeral 35designates the barrel of a fountain pen and the numeral 36 the capthereof. A bushing 3? is fitted and secured in the cap 36 and has agroove 38 receiving a curved or arcuate spring 89. The spring 39 isdesigned to snap into a groove 1-0 provided in a cylindrical member 4-1titted onthe barrel 35. vThe cylindrical member ll has a camming portioni2 for influencing the spring 39 into the groove 10. It is to beunderstood that one end of the spring 39 is secured to the wall of thegroove 38, and that the spring adjacent its other end curves out of tigroove and into the bore or opening of the bushing.

I clainr:

1. In a device of the character described, a case, a cap for the case,and releasable interengaging holding means "for securing the cap to thecase, said releasable interen 'aging holding means including a partcarried by the. case and a part carried by the cape one part slidablyfitting within the other, one part having a groove and the other parthaving a spring member positively connected thereto and designed toengage the walls of the groove to hold the parts together and the cap onthe case;

2. In a device of the character described, a case, a cap for the case,and. releasable inter-engaging holding means for securing the cap to thecase, said releasable interengaging holding means including a partcarried by the case and a part carried by the cap, one part fittingwithin the other, one part having a groove and the other part having aspring member designed to engage the walls of the groove to hold theparts together and the cap on the case, the part having the groove alsohaving a camming portion for influencing the spring member into thegroove.

In a device of the character described, a case, a cap for the case, aninstrument carried by the cap, a hollow cylindrical bushing fitted inand fixedly secured to one end of the case, a cylindrical member securedto the up and designed to slidably fit in the bushing and to permit theinstrument toaline itself and the cap in and on the case, saidcylindrical member having an annular groove in its periphery, and anarcuate spring member carried by the bushing and engageable with thegroove.

4. In a device of the character described, a case, a cap for the case,an instrument carried by the cap, a hollow cylindrical bushing fitted inand secured to one end of the case, acylindrical member secured to thecap and designed to fit in the bushing and to permit the instrument toaline itself and the cap in and on the case, said cylindrical memberhaving an annular groove in its periphery, and an arcuate spring membercarried by the bushing and'engageable with the groove, the cylindricalmember having a camming portion forwardly of the groove for influencingthe spring member into the groove when the cylindrical member isintroduced into the bushing.

5. In a device of the character described,

a case, a cap for the case, an instrument carried by the cap, a hollowcylindrical bushing fitted in and secured to one end of the case, acylindrical member secured to the cap and designed to fit in the bushingand to permit the instrument to aline itself and the cap in and On thecase, said cylindrical member having an annular groove in its periphery,and an arcuate spring member carried by a groove in the inner side ofthe bushing and having aportion secured to the bushing and also havinganother portion free and engageable with the groove.

6. In a device of the character described, a casing, acap for thecasing. an instrument carried by the cap, a bushing fitting inand-secured to one end of the casing, a member secured to the cap anddesigned to fit into the bushing, groove in its periphery, and anarcuate spring member having a circumferential extent less than a circleand having one end positively secured to the bushing and also having itsother end free and engageable with the groove of the member.

7. In a device of the character described, a casing, a cap for thecasing, an instrument carried by the cap, a curved spring member havingone portion positively connected with the casing and having anotherportion free and a member secured on the cap and having a groove adaptedto be engaged by said free portion of spring member.

VILLIAM EVERTTE STElVAtRT.

said member having a v

